on picking her up at all.

[tildeathdouspart]

I'm really not sure this is a good idea.

No, there are so many other people in this, this headspace already, I shouldn't...

Comments

[tildeathdouspart]

[Lucy may have just taken half a step back. Well, she recovers.]

I suppose that's true.

[syncopath]

[He notices that flinching away, of course, and it only makes him smile more broadly.]

You suppose? You certainly didn't argue when we were married.

[tildeathdouspart]

Precisely. Were. [Oh, she's not even bothering to hope that he didn't see her tremble. It's hard to say whether from anger or from fear, at this point.]

[syncopath]

Is that what this is about? Silly little Lucy, thinking she can wipe the slate clean?

You've got just as much blood on your hands as I ever did. Not to mention mine.

[tildeathdouspart]

I don't think there'll be any clean slates. I was content being your widow.

[syncopath]

And you couldn't even do that right.

[tildeathdouspart]

[She flinches, again. It's barely noticable, but she knows he'll know. He's always known.]

Do you want me to try again?

[syncopath]

Oh, by all means.

[He takes a step toward her, menacing, brow furrowed. Go on. I dare you. But that mocking smile is still firmly planted on his face. He doesn't really think she can pull this off a second time.]

Try.

[tildeathdouspart]

[In truth, she'd rather run, but she can't even bring herself to do that.]

You really think I wouldn't. After everything.

[She would, perhaps. Too bad it's not so easy to shoot someone when you're unarmed, so all she can do is stand there, terrified.]

[syncopath]

[Another step, then another. Soon he'll be close enough to reach out and touch her. Or, more likely, make a grab for her.]

I think you can't. There's a difference.

[And then his face softens, his voice becomes a coo.]

Oh, but Lucy. My darling companion. It wasn't all bad, was it? I took you to the stars. Made you a queen. We could still rule the universe, you and I. Together.

[tildeathdouspart]

It's not that easy anymore. [She scowls, deliberately calling back to mind the Year That Wasn't, the terror of it, the fear, the pain, determined not to be swayed by promises. Not this time.

Of course that means she misses her chance to move away.]

[syncopath]

No?

[He reaches out to grab her by the wrist and yank her closer to him.]

[tildeathdouspart]

No!

[And yet. She tries to pull her hand away, but it's a little too late now. So frightened. She can feel her thoughts lurching to a stop.]

YOUR ICONS /grabby hands

[syncopath]

[His shoulders relax, ever so slightly, when he pulls her close. She should be at his side. It's right. He brings his other hand up to brush a stray lock of hair from her forehead.]

Sshhh. Everything's all right, Lucy. We're together again. As we were meant to be.

Don't you want it to be like the old days? Before he turned up and ruined everything?

glad you like! :) They took a while to find...

[tildeathdouspart]

No... no, no you're just toying with me.

[Again. She hates him so much, but she can't fight him, not really. Her voice is trembling and so is she, and she refuses to look at him let alone meet his eyes.]

He didn't- he... you killed all those people.

ack! late, sorry!

[syncopath]

[The Master looks at her seriously for a moment, brows raised.]

I saved all those people. From themselves.

[He cracks a wide grin at his own joke.]

You weren't complaining before.

No worries. ^^

[tildeathdouspart]

[Now she's nearly hissing with anger.] You can't possibly expect me to believe that.

[She makes the mistake to look up just to glare at him, not quite meeting his eyes, but close.]

[syncopath]

No? You did that before, too. Stood right by my side as our children rained down upon the Earth. You were willing to help change the universe.

[tildeathdouspart]

[Oh, she remembers that much better than she'd like. She tenses in his hold and for a moment she says nothing. Too thick a lump in her throat.]

...people change.

[syncopath]

[He breaks into disbelieving, rough laughter as his hands tighten on her shoulders.]

What did he say to you? What did he do?

[Punctuated by a little shake. Because as far as the Master is concerned, nothing changes. Not on its own.]

[tildeathdouspart]

[That's just enough for her to tense and stir, she plants a hand against his chest and pushes them apart.]

He? He didn't have to do or say anything. I never saw him again after he left the Valiant.

[syncopath]

Oh, yes. After you shot me. My dear, sweet wife. You betrayed me.

[He attempts to yank her closer again.]

And you know what I do to those who betray me.

[tildeathdouspart]

You have yourself to blame. I didn't regret it for a second.

[Despite her struggling, she can't match his strength, putting her right back where she started.]

[syncopath]

That's too bad.

[Succeeding in pulling her close to him, he murmurs against her hair.]

Regret might have earned you a few points. Might have saved you.

[tildeathdouspart]

[She struggles for a little longer, trying to shove him away, or herself away from him, but to no avail. Eventually, the struggling stops. Maybe she's given up.]

Nothing really saves anybody from you.